James Taylor Lewis (October 30, 1819 – August 5, 1904) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 9th Governor of Wisconsin (1864–1866). Prior to his election as governor, he was the 7th Secretary of State of Wisconsin (1862–1864) and the 4th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (1854–1856), and served one year each in the Wisconsin State Senate (1853) and Assembly (1852).[1]

James Taylor Lewis
9th Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 4, 1864 – January 1, 1866
LieutenantWyman Spooner
Preceded byEdward Salomon
Succeeded byLucius Fairchild
7th Secretary of State of Wisconsin
In office
January 6, 1862 – January 5, 1864
GovernorLouis P. Harvey
Edward Salomon
Preceded byLouis Harvey
Succeeded byLucius Fairchild
4th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
GovernorWilliam Barstow
Preceded byTimothy Burns
Succeeded byArthur MacArthur Sr.
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 25th district
In office
January 3, 1853 – January 2, 1854
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byJohn Q. Adams
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Columbia district
In office
January 5, 1852 – January 3, 1853
Preceded byWilliam T. Bradley
Succeeded byOrrin D. Coleman
Personal details
Born
James Taylor Lewis

(1819-10-30)October 30, 1819
Clarendon, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 5, 1904(1904-08-05) (aged 84)
Columbus, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Cemetery
Columbus, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Democratic (before 1861)
SpouseOrlina M. Sturgis
Children
  • Seldon James Lewis
  • (b. 1850; died 1912)
  • Charles R. Lewis
  • (b. 1854; died 1922)
  • Annie L.
Parents
  • Shubael Lewis (father)
  • Eleanor (Robertson) Lewis (mother)
Professionlawyer, politician
Signature

Early life

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Lewis was born in Clarendon in Orleans County, New York, to Shubael Lewis and his first wife, Eleanor (née Robertson).[2] His father was a farmer and colonel in the New York State militia, and came to own large estates in New York and Wisconsin Territory. James Lewis was the third of four sons, his brothers were William L. Lewis, Shubael R. Lewis, and Hiram W. Lewis.[3] His mother died in 1834, and his father's second wife, Parna Nichols, assisted in raising him.[4]

He received a common school education and completed a course of English and classical study at Clarkson Academy and Clinton Seminary. He was interested from an early age in military affairs, and participated in the New York Militia. He was made a sergeant in 1838, and, in 1840, was made a lieutenant in the 215th Regiment. In 1842, he began studying law at Clarkson, New York, under Henry R. Selden,[2] who later became Lieutenant Governor of New York. After completing his studies, he was offered a legal partnership in Clinton, New York, but declined. He instead chose to move west to the Wisconsin Territory and established himself at Columbus, which remained his principal residence for the rest of his life.[4]

Career

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He taught school briefly in the district schools around Clarkson. In 1842, he began the study of law with former New York lieutenant governor Henry R. Selden.[3] In 1845 he moved to what is now Columbus, Wisconsin, where he was admitted to the bar.

Between 1846 and 1852, Lewis held the positions of district attorney and county judge and was elected to terms in both the Wisconsin State Assembly and the State Senate. He was also a member or the Wisconsin Constitutional Convention of 1847–1848, representing Columbia County. Lewis was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Columbus (Columbia Lodge #40)[citation needed] and served as Noble Grand of the Lodge in 1851. He also served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1854 to 1856, Wisconsin secretary of state from 1862 to 1864.[2]

Nominated by the Union Republicans for governor, Lewis was elected and served as Governor of Wisconsin from January 6, 1864, until January 5, 1866. He was the last Wisconsin governor to hold the office during the Civil War.[5] and was concerned during his tenure with providing sufficient troops for the Civil War and helping to protect them and their dependents. He visited troops in the field and helped establish hospitals in Wisconsin for the care of the wounded. Refusing renomination in 1865, he was offered a diplomatic post by President Lincoln, but chose instead to return to his law practice in Columbus.

Death and legacy

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Lewis died in Columbus, Wisconsin, on August 4, 1904.[2] He is interred at Hillside Cemetery, Columbus, Columbia County, Wisconsin. His former home, now known as the Gov. James T. Lewis House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Family life

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Lewis married Orlina M. Sturgis, of Clarkson, New York, in 1845.[2] They had four children together, though their first son died in infancy. He named his second son Selden, in honor of his law instructor, Henry R. Selden. His third son, Charles, was named for Charles D. Robinson.[4]

His elder brother, Shubael R. Lewis, won esteem at the Battle of Chapultepec in the Mexican–American War.[4]

Bibliography

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  • Sobel, Robert; Raimo, John W. (1978). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Vol. IV (illustrated ed.). Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930-46604-6 – via Google Books.
  • White, James Terry (1904). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XII. J.T. White – via Google Books.

References

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  1. ^ White 1904, p. 75.
  2. ^ a b c d e "War Governor off State Dead; James T. Lewis Died Yesterday in Columbus. Was Honored by Laurence; Was in Public Life From Early Manhood and Has Served the State Well. A Friend of the Soldiers". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. August 5, 1904. Page 8, column 1. Retrieved April 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1727.
  4. ^ a b c d The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men. Vol. Wisconsin. Chicago: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1877. pp. 5–7. Retrieved March 23, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "Lewis, Gov. James Taylor 1819-1904". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Homes of Governors". Archived from the original on May 27, 2014.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1853
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Secretary of State of Wisconsin
1861
Succeeded by
Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
1863
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
William T. Bradley
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia district
January 5, 1852 – January 3, 1853
Succeeded by
Orrin D. Coleman
Wisconsin Senate
New district Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 25th district
January 3, 1853 – January 2, 1854
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1854 – 1856
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State of Wisconsin
1862 – 1864
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Wisconsin
1864 – 1866
Succeeded by